M q-neill



Jan. 1951 A E. M. O'NEILL I 2,537,277

APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIXTURES Filed April 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 23 LE- L 72 2'0 1 1o lNVENT'OR Edward M 0716/ BY dM w ATTOR N EY E. M- O'NEILL Jan. 9, 19517 APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIIXTURES Filed April 24, 1945 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v a N v E N o R fawarr/ M OWe/V/ Jan. 9; 1951 E. ONEILL APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIXTURES Filed April 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w W 6 N R N o 7/ I A QZ W xm w 5 Patented Jan. 9, 1 951 APPARATUS, Foe

ignoroh'i-lonlnotrouip uses Edward M; ONeill, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Union Machine CompamaSan Francisco, CaliL, a corporation of California. H 7

Application April 24, 1945 Serial hlo. 590,069

7 Claims; (c lia- 322) This invention relates to causing apparatus for accurately indicating when, during the operai f placin liquid in a container, a predeter mined quantity or proportion has been added.

This invention discloses an improvement of the mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application ser. No. 454,087. new Patent No. 2.399.291. filed August 8, 1942, and entitled Liquid Level Indicator.

In preparing a tint to match an existing color, such, for example, as in connection with repairing or touching up automobile bodies on which the finish has been damaged, it is common to mix suitable basic colors in proportions prescribed by a formula for the required tint. Such formulas Fig, 5 is a transverse section, taken as indicated bythe-linesi ion Figs. 3'and 7;

Fig; 6 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, :01 the indicating mechanism; Fig. "7 is a vertical section, on an en arged soale,'taken as indicated by line l--1 of Fig. "6; Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail sections, taken as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines Fig. 11 is a detail section, taken as indicated by .linell--lI-ofFig;3.

are commonly expressed as scale readings which must prevail after the addition eftthesuccessive ingredients to the mixture. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for facilitating the accurate proportioning of such mixtures.

It is another object of this inventionto provide such an apparatus, employing a scale arranged for accurate reading without the use .of'magnification, vernier arrangements, or the like.

It is another object of this invention to pro.- vide such an apparatus in which accurate positioning of the scale with respect to the container of the mixture is not required. I

It is another object of this invention to provide such an apparatus, having an improved method of guiding and supporting the float which cooperates withthe scale to indicate the quantity of liquid in the container. 7

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be "made more clearly apparent'from a considerat on of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings ac companying and forming part of the present specification. The form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to beunderstood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims. llnthedrawingsz. 1.. gs. I

Figure :1 is'an elevation of a mixing machine incorporating the gauging apparatus of the in; vention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, partly in section, of the gauging apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a further enlarged scale, taken as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a detail cross section, taken as. indicated byline 4-.- .l onFig.2; a.

Referring to Fig.1 of the drawings, a mixing apparatus ,is' shown of the type discose'd in -a .pending application filed. in the name of Edward M. QNeill on August 24, 1942, serial Number 555,833, new Patent No; 2,438 5'74, and entitled Mixing Apparatus.- This apparatus includes a plurality of-cans or containers I ll, containing different liquids or ingredients which may be required in a mixture formula. For instance, cans 1-D may each contain-paint, lacquer; or the like, of :a'different color. It is thus possibleto produce a paint or lacquer mixture of a certain tint or shade of color-by mixing portions of the paints in some or all of the cans in in accordance witha known formula. V

. Forreceiving the ingredients, a receptace ll is provided, suitably supported below the cans 1!]. .Each of the cans lllis provided with a valve 12 for accurately controlling the discharge of the contents of the can. Cans 10 are carried by a table 1 rotatably supported on a standard M which may rest on the floor l5. The arrangement'is such that table 13 may be revolved manuallyto bring that can '|0 having the desired color: or ingredientimmediately over receptacle "H. The valve [2 of this can is then opened to allow the proper quantity of the contents of the can to how into receptacle II, this quantity being'indica't edby'the gauging apparatus l8 in a m'an'nertoibe' hereinafter described. v v

"Means, including a motor I9, are provided for agitating the paint, or other ingredients, in the cans l0 before the mixing operation is started. Containers 20 and 2| are provided on the table '13 "for holding liquids which flow more readily than paint and do not require agitation, such as 'a thinnew'dr f dryer'i Liquid frb-mthe respg tive tenements, 21 is' discharged through valved pipes' 22, 23 which are each placed between apair 'of can-s I0 and terminate adjacent the bottoms of these cans. The gauging apparatus l8 includes a float 25 having a stem 26 (Figs. 2 and 6). The float is intended to' be freely movable in accordance with ithelevelof thellquid in the receptacle H, so that ceptacle l I, and is mounted above the receptacle II. The dial 28 carries a plurality of scales 29 having respectively indicia for use with receptacles ll of different sizes. To provide scales of such length as to be readily readable accurately accurate indications of the quantity in the receptacle II are ensured.

As shown in Fig. 7, the sheave 45 is rotatably supported by a pin 41 secured in an inwardly projecting boss 46 formed in the front wall of thecolumn 31. The drive sheave 46 is fixed on a shaft 56 which is co-axial with the scale 29, idler sheaves 5| and 52 being provided appropriately to guide the cable to the sheave 46.

without the need of magnification or verniers,

the scales are in the form of concentric graduated circular arcs.

Since such receptacles are in general of standexample, and. of progressively increasing lengths.

Thus, the shortest scale 39 is for a pint size receptacle, the longest scale 3! is for a gallon receptacle, and the scales 32 and 33 of intermediate lengt s are respectively for quart and half-gallon I receptacles.

However, it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to use with definite sized receptacles, the only limitation being that the height of the receptacle be greater than the length of the scale to be used. Thus, when a very small amount of a given tint is needed, a half-pint or less can be readily prepared by using t e pint scale and a receptacle, such as H, of small diameter or cross section and of sufficient height. similarly, other desired quantities can be prepared by using either the quart, half-gallon or gallon scal s with a r c tacle of suitable cross section and suitable height.

An indicator mechani m 36 (see Fi s. 2, 6, 7,

and 8) is provided to assist in accurately determining the arrival of the float 25 at a point corr s onding to a definite scale division. This indicator 36 is slidable in a vertic l d rection along t e face of a hollow tubular member or column 31. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the column 31 has an offset circular portion or head 38 at its upper end upon which is mounted the dial 28. By ofis tting the dial 28 in this manner, the overall hei ht of the apparatus is reduced.

As best shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8, the column 31 is provided with a vertically extending slot 39 openin through its face. The indicator 36 comprises a body member 46 having a lug 41 extending through the slot 39 and carrying clamp means 42 by which the indicator is secured to a light .cable 43 having a portion 43-a behind the slot 39 and movable lengthwise thereof, and'which sipports and adjustably positions the indicator 3 As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the cable 43 are joined by a tension spring 44 to maintain the cable 43 as a loop tensioned about a'lower .As shown in Fig. 3, the sheave 46 is secured on the shaft 56 near one end thereof, as by a set screw 53. The shaft 59 is rotatably supported in a hub or boss 54, formed on the front wall of column head 38, by a number of rolling bearing elements 55. The shaft 56 extends out of the head 38 and has an operatin knob 56 secured on its outer end, as by a set screw 51. Rotation of theshaft 50 by means of the knob 56 serves to adjust the position of the indicator 36 in an 0bvious manner. An enlarged portion 58 on shaft 50 forms a shoulder 59 which engages the face of the head 38 and co-operates with sheave 46, which engages the inner end of hub 54 to restrain the shaft against axial movement. The frictional resistance of the parts serves to maintain the indicator 36 in adjusted position. Adal hand 66 is carried by the shaft 50 for rotation therewith for co-operating with the scale 29 to indicate the setting of the'indicator mechanism 36. To facilitate accurate setting of the hand 69, it is provided with an index 6| which is radially adjustable so as to be in close relationship with any one of the scales 36, 3|, 32, and "33. As shown in Figs. 2 and 11, the index 6| i's'positioned for co-operation with the scale 32 fora quart s'zed receptacle. The outer end portion of the hand 60 has a radially extending slot 62 and sides 60-42 and 66'b'para1le1 therewith. The index 6| has a portion 63 of flattened C-shaped cross section which closely embraces the outer end portion of pointer 60 (see Fig. 4) so as to be freely slidable therealong. The index 6| has a po'ntedend 64 which co-operates with the chosen scale, and a pin 65 projecting through the slot 62 by means of which the pointer may be adjusted.

The entire gauging apparatus [8 is supported above the receptacle ll by a lateral extension 10 formed on the lower end of the column 31, and having a hollow boss H slidable over a vertioal 'rod 12 'fixed to a small platen or table 13 which supports the receptacle H. The table 13 is mounted on a post 14 secured as by a 'set screw 15 in' an arm 16 clamped to the pedestal l4; By loosening the set screw 15, the table 13 may be suitably positioned with respect to the containers ID to receive paint, or the like, therefrom without splashing or spilling.

The'gauging apparatus I8 may be'secured in the proper position on rod 12 by a set screw 18 threaded through the boss H. However, this position is not critical, nor does it necessarly need to be changed to permit use of receptacles ll of different capacities, since means are provided to give a zero ind'cation on the scale 29 for various positions of the receptacle II. The only requirement, is that the apparatus I6 be positioned sufficiently far above the receptacle I I to allow the indicator 36 to be moved'through a distance corresponding to a full scale reading. To facilitate such positioning, a mark 86' (Fig. 2) is provided on the face of the column 31 for (:0- operation with a marker 8| formed on the indicator body 46. For receptacles ll of allon capacity, the apparatus must be positioned with the marker: 8L: or belowthe; mark 8.02. when;

83; adjacent; the dial! or? reduceziiinner diameter hearing? on: the: shatt; 5i}? and; forming, am; inner shoulder 84.. The: opposite: end portion: of the sleeve 8 2: rotatably and: siidabhr rests on a. reduceda portion iii-a1 of: the: hub of the: knob 56; Anlight compression: spring; 86, confined-i between the end! or: the hub: port-ion. 56 m and: shoulder 84;,urgesi slecvetrz: axially: of: shaftrfiiltsoi that the smel 85' of the sleeve. engages the adjacent. face. 81- of-'th&=enlarged= shattportiom 53.- In sway-5 ther hand. 6th is; firictiona-lly' constrained. tosrotate: with. shaft 5il-,,.andr hence irr accordance. with the movement of the indicator: 36 but-maybe-rotated independently thereot. as desired; for example, by the pirt 65. In thisway? the: index; 64. is both radially and angularly adjustable otthe. scale 29 As disclosed. inv said (impending: app1ication-,.

the indicator: includes? a:- pointer. 96. pivoted at 94- ontherbody. member. 44] (seaEigs: 6 andr 8 The. pointer 90 has a. long. indicating portion BIL-w and an short actuatin port-10m coo-a which I is made suiiicientlye heavy to: overbeilancet the indicating portion. Silk-a. Thus;, with. the indicating, portion. 9EIw extendinga to the left, as in Big. 6, pointer. 9)} turns-clockwise: on its; pivot.

9.1.- until; checked. by thestoppi-rr 92 onlthebody 4.8:

A fixed. pointer or: mark 93o is mounted omit/he:

body 41]; for; col-operating."with v the pointer 58. to. indicate a definite: position thereon. Ii f/ will; beapparent that a barely perceptible movement: of-

the. actuating end. SU -b of; the" pointer 96 will result: in a. substantial; and: readiiic observablemovement of the indicating: end: ell-00. with re:- spect to the mark 932. Such. moirementl israr-- ranged to: occur. with; a. change oi the: liquid. level orrquant ty under. consideration: Thus tlrempper end 2.? of the. float steini 2 64s arrangedto: engage the: actuating portion- 9il =-bof: thepo'inter 9.9 and: to- Swing-3 the pointer 98 counter -clockwise aboutpivot. 9-iupon upward. movement.- oii the float 25,. referring; tovFig. 6. at. the float at adefinitei elevation: is accurately indicated by the. alignment at the: pointer 90 withrtheimarkfir It importantthat. the: float. be; guided: adequately toensureitsresponding freely. techanges inthe liquid level. Thus,-, it isdesirabla-to: guide.

the stem atpoints spaced apart. as. as:- pos sibl'e. Thus, one of the. guide means; for. thestcm 26,. indicated; at. 913.,- is. mounted. at the. lower: end of the column. 37. Since only the"; final. upward movement of the. float-for angiilen liquidlevel is of anysignificanoa. the other: guide means l for: the float stem. is-mounted: on the: indioaton body; 40,, means. being. provided. to maintain the-float stem. in. guiding relation. with the: means 9 1 for all. adj'ustedl positons 0ft the: indicator. 3 6.

clearly; shown in; Figs. 9;: and; 1.0,! the:

means. 96". and. 91. are substantially identical; and. each includes an. element. 58 formed of; light. spring-wire bentrto'proiride apair oilparallel'lnonmally contacting, fingers 98-11,. 98-41,, joined? by. aloop oreye 9'8Tc. A machine screw 99; .passing; through the. eye. 981-0. and threaded into a, lug;- 37-'a or Alli-mas the case mar erves to secure the element 98 in; place.. Thefizee. endsofi the In this.- way;, arrivalate: portions apart sufii'ci'ently to .permittremoval otthe stem fromzthevguidea Therstem 26 maybe repi'acedi by forcing it in; the) opposites direction". To facilitate placement ofi the stemaint the. guides; the: arcuate: portions. are: providedzwith: diverging:

1 1 tails 98-f:and 98 -9:- It is desirabletobetabletoi remove the float 251 and; stem 26 to: facilitate cleaning when necessary.

'I-"o= l etaim the-stem 28 in; thekguide 9] for? all adjusted positions ot the indicator '3'6 an: abut?- merit I00; which may convenientlybea1 spring:

ring-is provided on the: stemlzt neanitsupper' and 21" (-see Figs- 6 and? 97-:- A 5 shownv in: Fig; 9; theoutsidc diameter-of the ring lfiiiis -suchathat theringcannot" pass through: theispacesnormallgr F provided by the guide 91. Inthiaway, the-float 2E and tnestem 2 6 wherinotsupported byliquid, hangfronr the guide 97 and move: up and dowm with the i-ndicaifln'r 36- as it'i's adjusted. At the sametiine', the stem 2 6 an'd flbat-ZS' are'fre'e to 1- rise in response to a rise in liquid level andactwatetlie pointer 9lFasprevious1y=described. A second siinilarabutment Hil spaced bel'ow theguide' 97 servesto prevent" excessive upward movement of the stem 26 which might damage the point er 9B.

In using the gauge it: is positioned at such a distance above the: receptacle II that, in the lower position of the indicator 36, the float 25 rests on the bottom of the receptacle and the indicator' has sufiicient movement: upwardly from this-pcsition4to cause the:hand-. 63 to traverse the scale: corresponding to: the; capacity of the: re:- ceptaele; 'I hispositionis. notat allcritical; due to thepreviously described adjustment provided between: theindicator 36: and: the hand: 60:?

Assuming: that a quart sizereceptacle: H is: to.

\ berusedgrthe' index: 5:! is first adjustedaradially to facilitate: accurate: reading of the: quart scale 32', asshown: in:. the drawings. The knob 56 is then rotated'soto positionitheindicator 36 that" the" floatl25wrests 0n the bottom of. thereceptacle H with: pointer-9th and: mark: 93 aligned; The hand ear is; then adjusted angularly on. the shaft:- 50; to; cause:- the indexto point. to: the starting: mark S on the: scale; 32; It. will be apparent that this adjustment of. the handfiil permits consid;-- erable latitudeiin the positionof therfloat 25:.

Due-:- tor irregularities: inthe: bottom of: the" receptacle H; it isinot desirable.- 1307 start: propors tioning. the: mixture: with: the": float: thereon as. a: starting point, sincethis might. cause: serious in aecuraoyint-the amount: at the-first. ingredient. Accordingly, it is proposed to add asra first: infgredientsome liquid whichrhasano efi'ectortthe finalztint, such as aipaintithinner ondryer, from the'contai-ner. 29.- or. 2L. 'I hisraises-the fio'ati25i cleanof. the receptacle hottoml and provides an. accurate starting: point. fromwhich to determinetheiamountsoftheessentialingredients; Forthis purposatheseales are eachprovided: with a zero. mark corresponding to a position of thefloat zfi somewhat above, the: bottom ofv the receptacle. [L 'Ilh'elus of. some lightliquid.intthis-manner. servesrnotonlyto-ensurethe. accuracy oi. the mix-- tune,, but, sinceit. remains on: topv of the; colored:-

pigmentssubsequently added, serves to maintainv the float out of contact with the colors. Thus, at the conclusion'of the mixing operation, such liquid, with the float 25 suspended therein, is on top of the mixture, so that the float does not require cleaning, but may be removed and merely wiped dry.

After initial adjustment of the index 6| to the -S mark at the proper scale, with the float at the bottom of the receptacle II, the knob 56 is rotated to bring the index 6| to the zero mark, correspondingly raising the indicator 36. The thinner, or other appropriate liquid, is then poured into the receptacle ll until the float 25 is raised sufficiently again to align pointer 90 with themark 93. The proportioning of the mixture now starts.

i Each of the scales 30-33 on the dial 28 is graduated from zero to 200 in the manner of the scale 32, as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, each scale division equals one-half of one percent of the total mixture; and simple addition would enable a user successively to set the indicator properly to'determine the percentages of the ingredients in a known mixture.

However, such mixtures are usually prepared in accordance with a formula which lists the several ingredients required, with the scale reading which is to obtain after the addition of the proper amount of each ingredient.

As an example, such a formula, utilizing in this case only four ingredients out of the total provided by the machine'of Fig. 1, may read as follows:

To comply with such a formula, that can which carries ingredient No. 1 is brought over receptacle II by appropriate rotation of table [3. Then, after preliminary setting of the apparatus as heretofore described, the index BI is moved to scale division 151 on the scale 32 which correspond s to the size of the receptacle I l. The ingredient No. 1 isthen discharged from the container ID by means of the valve I2 thereon into receptacle II until the pointer 90 is aligned with the mark 93. Now the index 6| is moved to division 166, and ingredient No. 2 is discharged from'appropriate can l0 into receptacle ll until the point 90 is again aligned with the mark 93. Then the index 6| is moved to a position midway between divisions 167 and 168, and can [0, corresponding to ingredient 6, is used as a source of supply until pointer 90 again aligns with the mark 93. Lastly, index (ii is moved to division 200, and ingredient No. 15 is added to the mixture until the pointer 90 again aligns with the mark 93. The receptacle H is now full, and can be used for reproducing the color represented by the formula.

Some types of ingredients which it may be desired to mix, for example baking synthetic enamel, require a much greater amount of thinner thanth'at provided by the rise of-the float from the S to the zero mark. Accordingly, a mark BS is provided on the pint, quart, and half gallon scales spaced a greater distance from the zero mark to permit the addition of such larger amounts of thinner. This requires the use of a quart size receptacle for a pint of such enamel mixture and correspondingly larger receptacles for a quart or half gallon mixture. A gallon is never mixed, since it would overflow the receptacle.

The scale and pointer mechanism illustrated herein is described and claimed in a divisional application, Ser. No. 197,911, filed October 30, 1950.

The inventor claims:

1. In a liquid gauge, means forming an elongated vertically extending element, an indicator mechanism vertically adjustable of said element in accordance with a quantity to be measured, and including a movable member, a pointer mounted on said member for movement with respect thereto, and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure having a stem adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, a pair of spaced means co-operating to guide said stem for vertical movement, mounted respectively on said elongated element and said movable member, and means maintaining said stem in guiding relation with said guides.

2. In a liquid gauge, means forming an elongated vertically extending element, an indicator mechanism adjustable along said element in accordance with a quantity to be measured, a cooperating scale and index for indicating the position of said mechanism, said mechanism including a movable member, a pointer mounted on said member for movement with respect thereto, and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure having a stem adapted to engage 'said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, a pair of spaced guide means co-operating to guide said stem for vertical movement, mounted respectively on said elongated element and said movable member, and means maintaining said stem in guiding relation with said guides.

3. In a liquid gauge. means forming an elongated vertically extending element. an indicator mechanism ad ustable along said element in accordance with a quantity to be meas red, a pair of elements forming a co-operating scale and index. one of said elements being fixed, the other of said elements being movable in accordance with the movement of said indicator mechanism for indicating the position of said mechanism, means for adjusting the position of said indicator mechanism with respect to said other element to alter the position of said mechanism for zero indication on said scale, said mechanism including a movable member, a pointer mounted on said member for movement with respect thereto, and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure having a stem adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, a pair of spaced guide means co-operating to guide said stem for vertical movement, mounted respectively on said elongated element and said movable member, and means maintaining said stem in guiding relation with said guides.

4. In a liquid gauge, means forming an elongated vertically extending element, an indicator mechanism vertically adjustable of said element accordance with a quantity to be measured, and including a movable member, a pointer mounted on said member for movement with respect thereto, and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure having a stem adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, a pair of spaced means cQ-Qperating to guide said stem for vertical movement, mounted respectively on said elongated element and said movable member, means maintaining said stem in guiding relation With said guides, and means on said stem co-operating with the guide on said member to limit vertical movement of the float with respect to the indicator mechanism.

5. In a liquid gauge, a scale member having a plurality of arcuate scales thereon, a rotatable member, said scales being concentric about the axis of said rotatable member, indicator mecha nism movable in response to rotation of said rotatable member, including a movable pointer and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, and an index carried by said rotatable member radially adjustable into co-operative relation with a chosen scale.

6. In a liquid gauge, a scale member having a plurality of arcuate scales thereon, a rotatable member, said scales being concentric about the axis of said rotatable member, indicator mechanism movable in response to rotation of said rotatable member, including a movable pointer and a mark with which the pointer can cooperate, a float structure adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark, means providing an index rotatably mounted on said rotatable member for rotation independently thereof, and means frictionally constraining said index providing means and said rotatable member for rotation together 7. In a liquid gauge, a scale member having a plurality of arcuate scales thereon, a rotatable member, said scales being concentric about the axis of said rotatable member, indicator mechanism movable in response to rotation of said rotatable member, including a movable pointer and a mark with which the pointer can co-operate, a float structure adapted to engage said pointer to move the same in co-operative relation with said mark,, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said rotatable member for rotation independently thereof, means frictionally constraining said sleeve to rotate With said rotatable memher, an indicating hand fixed on said sleeve, and an index carried by said hand for adjustment radially and angularly of said rotatable member.

EDWARD M. ONEILL.

REFERENiJES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

